Converting a data stream format in an apparatus for and method of reading targets by image capture

• US 8,833,660 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Slutsky, Michael S., Giebel, James R., Sackett, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/903,381
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.25, 235/462.45, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning

Abstract

An apparatus and method read a target by capturing return light from the target with a solid-state monochrome imager operative for generating an output data stream in a monochrome format having a plurality of slots containing pixel data indicative of an image of the target, and with a color controller for receiving the output data stream in a color format different from the monochrome format. A converter circuit converts the monochrome format into the color format and includes an input formatter for formatting the output data stream to have additional slots, a buffer for receiving auxiliary pixel data related to the image of the target, and an output formatter for inserting the auxiliary pixel data from the buffer into the additional slots and for processing both the pixel data and the auxiliary pixel data to enhance the reading of the target.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reading a target by image capture, comprising:

a housing;

a window supported by the housing;

a solid-state monochrome imager supported by the housing and having an array of light sensors looking at a field of view that extends through the window to the target, and operative for capturing return light from the target to be read, and for generating an output data stream in a monochrome format having a plurality of slots containing pixel data indicative of an image of the target;

a controller for controlling the monochrome imager and having a color video input for receiving the output data stream in a color format different from the monochrome format; and

a converter circuit for formatting the output data stream to have additional slots to convert the monochrome format into the color format, for receiving auxiliary pixel data related to the image of the target, for inserting the auxiliary pixel data into the additional slots, and for processing both the pixel data and the auxiliary pixel data to enhance the reading of the target.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pixel data is luminance data indicative of intensities of the captured return light from the sensors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional slots are reserved color slots in the color format.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative for assisting in generating the auxiliary pixel data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative for controlling the imager to produce another image of the target;

and wherein the auxiliary pixel data is indicative of the other image.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative for controlling another monochrome imager to produce another image of the target;

and wherein the auxiliary pixel data is indicative of the other image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter circuit includes an input formatter for formatting the output data stream to have the additional slots, a buffer for receiving the auxiliary pixel data, and an output formatter for processing the auxiliary pixel data received from the buffer, together with the pixel data received from the input formatter.

8. A scan engine, comprising:

a solid-state monochrome imager operative for capturing return light from a target, and for generating an output data stream in a monochrome format having a plurality of slots containing pixel data indicative of an image of the target; and

a converter circuit for converting the monochrome format of the output data stream into a color format different from the monochrome format, the converter circuit including an input formatter for formatting the output data stream to have additional slots, a buffer for receiving auxiliary pixel data related to the image of the target, and an output formatter for inserting the auxiliary pixel data from the buffer into the additional slots and for processing both the pixel data and the auxiliary pixel data.

9. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein the monochrome imager generates the pixel data as luminance data indicative of intensities of the captured return light.

10. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein the input formatter formats the additional slots as reserved color slots in the color format.

11. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein the converter circuit includes a control module operative for assisting in generating the auxiliary pixel data.

12. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein the imager is controlled to produce another image of the target;

and wherein the auxiliary pixel data is indicative of the other image.

13. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein another monochrome imager is controlled to produce another image of the target;

and wherein the auxiliary pixel data is indicative of the other image.

14. The scan engine of claim 8, wherein the monochrome imager and the converter circuit are compact in size to enable the compact scan engine to be mounted in a housing having a window through which the return light is captured.

15. A method of reading a target by image capture, comprising:

capturing return light from the target to be read with an array of light sensors of a solid-state monochrome imager having a field of view that extends to the target, and generating an output data stream in a monochrome format having a plurality of slots containing pixel data indicative of an image of the target;

formatting the output data stream to have additional slots to convert the monochrome format into a color format different from the monochrome format;

receiving auxiliary pixel data related to the image of the target;

inserting the auxiliary pixel data into the additional slots; and

processing both the pixel data and the auxiliary pixel data to generate the output data stream in the color format.

16. The method of claim 15, and configuring the pixel data as luminance data indicative of intensities of the captured return light from the sensors.

17. The method of claim 15, and configuring the additional slots as reserved color slots in the color format.

18. The method of claim 15, and processing both the pixel data and the auxiliary pixel data with a control module that assists in generating the auxiliary pixel data.

19. The method of claim 15, and controlling the imager to produce another image of the target;

and configuring the auxiliary pixel data to be indicative of the other image.

20. The method of claim 15, and controlling another monochrome imager to produce another image of the target;

and configuring the auxiliary pixel data to be indicative of the other image.